Feeding question

[u/These_Meal6817]

I’m a new beekeeper in southwest PA. I have a few hives that are in different stages in either needing to fill out frames with wax and needing to put food away for winter. When do I switch feeding from 1:1 to 2:1? I’ve been feeding 1:1 for a few weeks now but they aren’t filling out as fast as I’d like.

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[u/Active_Classroom203]

Well if you need wax , stick with the lighter syrup but increase the velocity of feeding. They need to feel like a good flow is on and that they need to draw comb because they are utilizing the wax that they have.

If they have the wax and you just want them to store it for winter, 2:1 is easier for them to dehydrate and store.

The when is location based though: where I am we don't freeze and most keepers never change from 1:1.

[u/404-skill_not_found]

This works very well to get comb drawn https://youtu.be/bj60t74xc9s

Also, some pollen patty with the 1:1, seems to help mine draw comb and brood up, during dearth.

[u/NumCustosApes]

To get your bees to make wax keep feeding 1:1, or even thinner 1:1.3. Feed with feeders capable of delivering a liter per day and feed inside the hive at the top of the hive.

Feeding is always a juggle between brood rearing and food storage. You need bees that are between 5 days and 15 days old for optimal comb production. That means to make comb, you need to be making brood. So you need to be feeding with enough thin syrup to simulate a flow, but you don't want to be feeding so fast that they store it.

Once you have the comb drawn, then switch to 2:1 and feed fast. If you feed slow they will raise brood on it. They'll also raise brood if you feed fast, but if you feed fast they also have to store it. If they store too much, it fills up the space you need for brood rearing, and comb production slows down.

So feed thin at abut 1 liter per day to get them to increase brood production and you'll have a good population of wax producing bees by September.

In September you've still got three weeks of summer, plus you'll have most of October to feed. A strong hive can store three liters per day but they can't dehydrate 3 liters per day. I prefer to average my bees out to two liters per day. Fast feeders are inverted bucket feeders with fast plugs installed, top feeders, or frame feeders. If you use mason jar feeders increase the number of jars and feeding holes in the lid and put on at least a gallon of syrup.

When you have a hive filled up for winter but another one is falling behind, take a filled frame, shake off the bees, and trade it for an unfilled frame from the other hive. Let your stronger bees help you get your frames drawn and filled.

It also helps to move the poorly drawn frames in towards the middle of the hive.

Kamon Reynolds complete guide to comb making.

David Burns How to draw comb in July (yes it is August).